Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
What is Asthma? (Part 2) Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND In our last blog we talked about what asthma is and what can increase your overall risk of developing the illness. We also talked about what the risk factors are for a flare up or asthma …
What is Asthma? Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND When the summer and warm weather arrives, they can bring more than just an opportunity to enjoy being outside! These warmer temperatures can also bring about triggers that in some people worsen their asthma symptoms. How can summer …
Dr. Claire’s Tips for Seasonal Allergies
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Allergy season comes every year and while we are not quite there yet, it is time to start thinking about how to avoid or reduce your signs and symptoms of seasonal allergies. It is a lot to cover so let us get into it, shall we?
Let us start at the beginning, how can you tell if it’s a cold or allergy? One way to tell the difference between a cold and allergies is how often they occur. Since colds are caused by a virus there tends to be no rhyme or reason to when they occur. Seasonal allergies as the name suggests tending to occur yearly during certain seasons of the year. This is because they are triggered by allergens such as pollen and this pollen occurs at specific times of the year. Another difference between a cold and seasonal allergies is how long the symptoms typically last. For example, a cold typically will last 3-10 days (although the cough may linger). In contrast the symptoms of seasonal allergies can last for several weeks. Seasonal allergies are also impacted by factors such as pollen count. On days with a high pollen count those with allergies will notice that their symptoms are typically worse. This is not true for those who have a cold. I would like to mention that if you have a cold and seasonal allergies high pollen count can make you feel worse because it triggers the allergies and many symptoms of a cold and seasonal allergies are very similar.
While some symptoms can be similar between a cold and seasonal allergies, others can be quite different. For example, both seasonal allergies and a cold can both present with a runny or stuffy nose. Very often there is sneezing with both a cold and seasonal allergies. However, there are some symptoms that can help differentiate between a cold and seasonal allergies. For example, with a cold you often have a sore throat or cough whereas with seasonal allergies you usually do not have any cough. Another difference is that with seasonal allergies you often experience puffy eyelids and with a cold you do not. Please see the following chart for a check list of symptoms that can help you differentiate between the 2. (1)
| Symptom check: Is it a cold or allergy? | ||
| Symptom | Cold | Allergy |
| Fever | Sometimes | Never |
| Itchy eyes | Rarely |
Usually |
| Sore throat | Usually | Rarely |
| Sneezing | Usually | Usually |
| Tiredness | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Runny nose | Usually | Usually |
| Stuffy nose | Usually | Usually |
| Cough | Usually | Sometimes |
In my clinical experience it is best to start allergy support before you experience symptoms. As I always say, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure!
All that being said just what can you do to help reduce the signs of seasonal allergies?
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Seasonal Allergies written by: Noreen Kodula, Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP) Allergies are the immune system’s reaction to typically harmless substances. They occur when the immune system identifies a harmless substance (allergen), as a threat. This triggers and immune response that can cause various symptoms. …
Understanding Fasting part 2 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND In our last blog on fasting, we were focused on shorter fasts such as water or juice fasting. We also talked about how you would go about doing a detox or cleanse, which lasts longer than a …
Understanding Fasting
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Fasting can be done for so many reasons. It can be done for religious reasons, cleansing or for general detoxification of the body. Fasting can also look vastly different depending on the reasons behind your fast. Several types of fasting’s include water fasting, juice fasting or not eating until after a certain time. At this time of the year many Christians are fasting for the religious observance of Lent. For some this may mean abstaining from meat on certain days of the week. For others it can mean following a strict vegan diet.
Now I know what you are thinking, what does this have to do with supplements? Obviously if your goal in fasting is to cleanse or detox it is important to know what nutrients can help with this goal. While water or juice fast is usually only done for 12-72 hours, supplements can still play a role towards keeping you healthy and promoting detox. During longer stricter fasting periods supplements can help you feel better overall and allow you to consistently follow your fast without feeling cravings or fatigue. In this blog I will make some supplement suggestions as well as make some recipe suggestions for you to try out! Remember, as I always say, have fun in the kitchen. You never know what you might cook up next.
Let us get into it, shall we?
When it comes to water, juice or even a detox fast it is important to start by eliminating all toxins such as caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and processed foods. For example, it is important to eliminate beverages such as soda since they contain such a high amount of sugar and other preservatives. (1) Now if it is not feasible for you to eliminate all these at once its ok. Reduce the amount of toxins at a pace you feel comfortable with. The goal to health should be a marathon not a sprint! What can you do to help support detox?
https://mapmygenome.in/blogs/learn/7-day-healthy-eating-plan-to-detox-your-body-naturally
As you can see there are plenty of ways to incorporate additional nutrients! For example, Greens Hx can easily be mixed into hummus! If you are not fond of beets Invite has powdered beets that can be easily mixed into smoothies or other foods such as soup.
That is all good but what about those doing a longer fast? What should those who are looking to maintain energy do when they are vegan or vegetarian? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! In our next blog we will be talking about the nutrients that can help maintain energy and overall health when you are doing a longer fast such as those observing a religious holiday such as lent.
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